“It’s the least I can do, considering I’m bumming at your place. I’m not trying to bother you, but I feel like that’s all I’ve done ever since I got here.”
“Well, thank you, but my neuroses are my own problem.”
“Look, I do want to say that I’m sorry about that shit with Tara. I really should have been more considerate—”
“No. It’s not a huge deal. Honestly, I was coming back from my family that night, and they were kind of a pain in my ass, so I was already on edge. Speaking of families, have you already met up with Kate?”
I already know the answer. If he had, he wouldn’t be acting like this right now. What I really want to know is when he’s going to meet with her.
Kate’s Mikey and Jordan’s sister.
I’ve talked to her a few times since I first met Jordan in college. She’s a nice girl, and I didn’t get started off on the wrong foot with her like I did with Mikey.
Nice as she is, her life hasn’t been the easiest recently. That’s why Mikey’s here.
Her asshole husband ended up having an affair with one of his students. She had to move out of his place and back into Jordan’s parents’.
It’s why she urged Mikey to come and see her. She didn’t want to tell him over the phone.
I feel kind of bad for Mikey, sitting here thinking he’s going to catch up with his sis only to find out she and her four-month-old are entering into a rough patch. I kept telling Jordan he should tell his brother, but he didn’t think that was a good idea, saying Kate wanted to tell him herself in person, which is her right. It just sucks for Mikey that everyone else in his family has known about it this whole time and kept him out of the loop.
“I don’t see her until tomorrow,” Mikey says, “so I was gonna hit the gym later, I guess. Gotta keep this body for the summer. Competing with those LA gym rats.”
“I doubt you can do much damage to that body over the course of a week.”
We exchange a glance, and his eyes narrow.
I look away again.
Here I was, impressed with myself for making a lighthearted comment, and now he’s thinking about how I just went all gay on him.
He must know. Jordan must have told him, but I don’t have to go drooling all over him like this. God, when he tells Jordan about this, he’s going to give me so much shit.
Mikey turns and notices a joke on Adventure Time. He comments on it, and we get into a discussion about the show, talking about our favorite episodes and moments.
“Yeah, I don’t watch a lot of cartoons,” Mikey says, “but this one is the shit.”
“Oh, I watch a lot of cartoons. And anime, I have to admit.”
“Really?”
“Yeah. That’s one of the many dorky things I do.”
“I think that’s kind of cool, actually.”
That wasn’t what I was expecting him to say.
I finish my wrap and put my plate in the dishwasher.
“Guess I better get back to work,” I tell Mikey, enjoying how relaxed I feel about him being here now and the ease within me that I don’t feel threatened having a complete stranger in my apartment.
“Cool. Catch you later.”
I start into the hall, but stop myself and turn back to him.
“Sorry,” I say.
“What?”
